Wine of the week: Herdade do Esporão Vinho Monte Velho 2021
by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On
Once again, Portuguese wine shows off its value and quality
My tasting note for this wine is simple: “Very Portuguese — fruity (dark berries) and heavy-ish, but not heavy.”
Which, as brief as it is, says everything anyone who wants quality at a fair price needs to know. The Herdade do Esporão Vinho Monte Velho 2021 ($10, purchased, 13.5%) once again demonstrates that Portugal may offer the best value in the world for red wine (and the whites aren’t bad, either).
More specifically, this vintage of the Monte Velho is a blend of four grapes. This includes touriga nacional, Portugal’s national grape, and a smattering of syrah (that doesn’t get in the way). The combination offers something that isn’t particularly simple or as straightforward as a $15 California red. There’s some spice, and it tastes surprisingly fresh for its weight. Meanwhile, the tannins are there for anyone paying attention.
This is a winter dinner red wine, and especially for the middle of the week when there’s leftover pot roast in the refrigerator or you want to roast some mushrooms with assorted vegetables.
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